- Hitoshi Asaoka, senior strategist at Mizuho Trust & Banking Co.
Japanese stock indexes ended mixed on Tuesday after Japan Tobacco Inc. raised its earnings forecast and Greece struggled to secure a €130 billion international bailout.
The Nikkei 225 declined 0.13%, or 11.68 points, to 8,917.52, while the broader Topix rose 0.38%, or 2.92, to 772.77.
"Investors like the fact there haven't been any surprises in earnings data," said Hitoshi Asaoka, a Tokyo-based senior strategist at Mizuho Trust & Banking Co. "Both negative and positive reports about earnings fell within expectations, which is boosting confidence in the market."
Japan's Cabinet Office is to announce change in month-on-month core machinery orders on Thursday. Orders rose 14.8 per cent in November, after declining 6.9 per cent in October.
© Dukascopy Bank